Top 10 Greatest Women's Rugby World Cup Matches of All Time
Rugby NewsWednesday, 20 August 2025 at 16:58
This Friday, the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in spectacular fashion as England take on the USA at the Stadium of Light, and anticipation has never been higher. From the opening whistle, the spotlight will shine on world-class athletes ready to etch their names into history.
England captain Zoe Aldcroft leads a Red Roses squad that brims with experienced stalwarts, as the likes of Emily Scarratt, Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews prepare to become world champions once again. However, as defending champions New Zealand hunt for a third consecutive crown, and France and Canada present the best of the chasing pack, the field is open for the upcoming competition. As we count down to kick off, it’s the perfect moment to revisit the greatest matches in the 10 iterations of Women’s Rugby World Cup history.
These are the clashes that shaped the sport, thrilled the fans, and proved that women’s rugby has it's rightful place upon the world's stage. Here are the 10 greatest Women's Rugby World Cup matches of all time, starting off with the fixture that started it all.
1) New Zealand 24 - 8 Canada - The First Ever Women's World Cup Match (1991)
Pool A, 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup - 6th April 1991 - Glamorgan Memorial Ground, Ely, Wales
When New Zealand met Canada in the opening match of the first Women's Rugby World Cup, few outside the players’ friends and families could have imagined the significance. The Black Ferns, captained by Farah Palmer’s predecessor Andrea “Andy” Leslie, took the field in borrowed jerseys after fundraising to get themselves to Wales.
Canada, led by their pioneering captain Barb McKee, arrived as relative unknowns upon rugby's global stage. New Zealand ran in tries through the likes of Vicky Dombroski and Mary Sullivan, while Canada’s bruising forwards, anchored by Gillian Florence, battled for every inch. The 24-8 scoreline looks like a routine Black Ferns win on paper, but this match bares the significance of being the birth of the Women’s Rugby World Cup as we know it.
For many players, this was their first taste of international competition, and they were playing for more than just points and progression. The on-field icons were proving that women belonged on rugby’s biggest stages, after overcoming ample opposition to the tournament even taking place. Every carry by Wendy Whitehead or tackle from Canada’s fiery back-rowers resonated as defiance. Those early pioneers were opening a door for the next generation. From the moment New Zealand crossed for the first try, women’s rugby lit its spark upon a global scale.
2) USA 19 - 6 England — The First Final (1991)
1991 Women's Rugby World Cup Final - 14th April 1991 - Cardiff Arms Park, Wales
The 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup Final had more than a trophy on the line, as history was decided in the Cardiff Arms Park. England, with talismanic No. 8 Gill Burns at her barnstorming best, held a slender 6–3 half-time lead thanks to her pack’s dominance. But the USA, captained by outside centre Barb Bond and inspired by the outstanding scrum-half Krista McFarren, unleashed their backline in the second half.
Clare Godwin and Patty Connell combined for lung-busting runs, while Eagle forwards Tam Breckenridge ensured England’s pack couldn’t roll over them. The killer blow came when Godwin broke through England’s defence for a decisive try, setting the Americans on their way to a 19–6 triumph.
England’s Susie Appleby and Karen Almond battled to spark a comeback, but the Eagles had already sunk their talons into the inaugural piece of silverware. This victory was a manifesto for American rugby, who could match the sport’s traditional powers from the men's side of the sport. The players were amateurs who had paid their own way, but from that day forward, the USA hold the honour of being the first ever Women's world champions.
3) England 38–23 USA — England’s First World Title (1994)
1994 Women's Rugby World Cup Final - April 24th 1994 - Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, Scotland
At Raeburn Place, the same venue as England's first ever men's international match against Scotland, history was made for the RFU's women's team. England and the USA met in the final for a second consecutive tournament, with the Red Roses securing their revenge. The Eagles, led by the peerless Tam Breckenridge, threw everything at their opponents, with Connell and Godwin once again dangerous in open play.
However, England had learned their lessons from Cardiff some three years prior. Gill Burns was imperious from No. 8, crashing through American tackles and inspiring her pack on the front foot. England captain Karen Almond and her second-in-command Sue Dorrington pulled the strings in the midfield, while fullback Janette Shaw’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking.
England ran in tries through their marauding forwards, who dominated the breakdown and drove home their advantage. The final tally stood at 38–23, it was a breathless, high-scoring battle that highlighted the growing skill level across the women’s game. For Burns, who had tasted heartbreak in 1991, the moment of winning the trophy was pure vindication. For England’s squad, which also featured the likes of Gillian Braham and Emma Mitchell, it was a signal that they had arrived as the game’s new powerhouse.
4) New Zealand 44 - 12 USA — Black Ferns Dynasty Begins
1998 Women's Rugby World Cup Final - May 16th 1998 - NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands
In Amsterdam, 1998, a new order emerged that would dominate the women's rugby landscape. The USA, with legends like Jen Crawford and Tam Breckenridge still in the side, couldn’t match the ferocity of a New Zealand team powered by Vanessa Cootes. The flying wing, considered as one of the greatest ever, scored four tries in the final, and left defenders sprawled in her wake with each surging break down field. Black Ferns captain Farah Palmer was everywhere, as the icon hit rucks, rallied her team, and epitomised New Zealand's ruthless edge.
The halfback pairing of Louisa Wall and Anna Richards marshalled play with precision, as Richards’ tactical nous unlocked repeated gaps in the Eagles’ line. With Cootes running riot and Dianne Kahura adding tries of her own, New Zealand rocketed to a 44–12 demolition.
For the Americans, Jen Crawford's try gave brief hope, but the Ferns had too much firepower. This victory was the start of a dynasty for New Zealand, for the first of six World Champion crowns. New Zealand were on top of the world as Palmer, Richards, and Cootes became Black Ferns icons.
5) New Zealand 13 - 10 England — The Stoop witnesses an Instant Classic (2010)
2010 Women's Rugby World Cup Final - September 5th 2010 - Twickenham Stoop, London, England
The Stoop was rocking. England, with Maggie Alphonsi at her destructive best, relished the chance to end their losing streak of high-stakes clashes against the Black Ferns. Katy Daly-McLean captained with composure and pulled the strings in attack, while Danielle 'Nolli' Waterman threatened constantly from fullback.
The Red Roses dominated possession, yet they struggled to land the killer blow at the home of the Harlequins. The Black Ferns, anchored by captain Melissa Ruscoe and inspired by the tireless flankers Justine Lavea and Linda Itunu, soaked up the pressure and struck with a surgeon's precision. Kelly Brazier’s boot proved decisive, and prop Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox scored a key try that swung the momentum of the match.
Alphonsi thundered into rucks, Heather Fisher carried relentlessly, as England pushed the World title holders to the brink. However, the Black Ferns held on, 13–10, to claim their fourth straight crown in an instant classic of a Rugby World Cup Final.
6) Ireland 17 - 14 New Zealand — The Shock of Shocks (2014)
Pool B, 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup - August 5th 2014 - Centre Nationale de Rugby, Marcoussis, France
Little over a decade ago in the small French commune of Marcoussis, Ireland stunned the rugby world. Captain Fiona Coghlan led a ferocious Ireland pack, with Marie-Louise Reilly and Sophie Spence disrupted New Zealand’s revered set piece. Ireland battled to their very limits to record a historic win over the Black Ferns, in what was the first ever on-field meeting between the Irish and New Zealand women's sides.
Alison Miller’s breathtaking try as she scorched down the left wing in Emerald green, remains an iconic image of the match, while Niamh Briggs coolly slotted the extras, despite the immense pressure upon her shoulders. Scrum-half Tania Rosser marshalled Ireland’s tempo, as every Ireland player tackled like their lives depended on it.
For New Zealand, captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili rallied her side, while Kelly Brazier and Kendra Cocksedge tried to wrestle control. However, uncharacteristic errors fell to Ireland’s ferocity, as New Zealand's underestimation of the Irish proved decisive. The 17–14 win was Ireland’s Everest, in a moment that saw Briggs, Miller and Coghlan etch their names into IRFU folklore. It was the day the world learned the Black Ferns were mortal, with New Zealand waiting until 2016 to finally bagging a win over Ireland.
Ireland's incredible 2024 WXV upset has tipped the scales in their all-time history against New Zealand. Ireland have two wins over New Zealand's sole 2016 triumph, with this clash from the 2014 World Cup laying the foundations for some historic bragging rights. Ireland and New Zealand will meet in the third round of the 2025 World Cup pool stage, with the next chapter set to be written in this rivalry.
7) Canada 18 - 16 France — Maple Leaf Miracle
2014 Women's Rugby World Cup Semi-Final - August 13th 2014 - Stade Jean Bouin, Paris, France
With the wind of Parisian home support in their sails, France, led by their relentless captain Gaëlle Mignot, were expected to march to the 2014 final for a clash with England upon home soil. But Canada, driven by the brilliance of Magali Harvey, ripped up Les Bleus' script with a stunning semi-final outing.
Harvey’s wonder try, the unforgettable 90-metre dash past the hapless French defenders, is still replayed as one of the greatest solo efforts of any Rugby World Cup. Captain Kelly Russell was immense at No. 8, with her tireless carries constantly providing Canada with front-foot ball. The skipper's sister, Laura Russell, steered the pack, with the French pack repeatedly buckling under the prop's astute scrummaging.
Julianne Zussman’s composure at fullback and Mandy Marchak’s defensive grit kept Canada in the fight. France struck through Safi N’Diaye and the boot of Sandrine Agricole, but the evergreen Maple Leaves refused to wilt. An 18–16 victory sent Canada to their first final, with a new powerhouse emerging across North American Women's Rugby.
Harvey went on to be crowned 2014 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, with her semi-final score immoralised as World Rugby's Try of the Decade, along with her status as a global superstar. That semi-final was Canada’s declaration that they belonged among the elite, with the North American side holding firm to their position in the upper-echelons ever since that fateful day in Paris.
8) England 21–9 Canada — Red Roses Finally Bloom
2014 Women's Rugby World Cup Final - August 17th 2014 - Stade Jean Bouin, Paris
After 20 years of chasing the Women's Rugby World Cup, England finally shed the 'nealry' tag. Captain Katy Daley-McLean was once again masterful at fly-half, as the halfback pinned Canada back from the opening whistle. But the hero in Paris was none other than Emily Scarratt. The centre scored 16 points, including a late try that sealed the Roses’ 21–9 victory.
Scarratt’s combination of power and poise was unplayable at her prime, as 'Scaz' would slice through Canada’s defence and run rings around the outside backs. The Red Roses squad was an all-star cast, fitting of the title of World Champions. Danielle 'Nolli' Waterman was unleashed on the counter-attack, Tamara Taylor and Sarah Hunter grafted tirelessly in the second row, and Maggie Alphonsi relished her swansong, to give one last warrior’s performance for the greatest prize in the game.
Canada, led by Kelly Russell and Magali Harvey, had peaked from their semi-final heroics. Canada pushed hard, but didn't have the gas in the tank to break down England’s granite defence. When England lifted the trophy, it wasn’t just the end of 20 years of frustration for the Red Roses, it was the crowning of England’s golden generation. For Scarratt, Waterman, Alphonsi and countless more, immortality was confirmed from the 2014 triumph.
9) New Zealand 41–32 England — The Belfast Points-Fest
2017 Women's Rugby World Cup Final - August 26th 2017 - Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, N. Ireland
A World Cup Final that was a try-fest from start to finish, as England and New Zealand once again met at the showpiece event. England’s Lydia Thompson lit up the first half, scoring two spectacular tries to stun the Black Ferns, as Sarah Hunter led from the front with a steeled resolve. Marlie Packer and Rocky Clark hammered into collisions, and Katy Daley-McLean kept England's score-board ticking over.
The half-time score-board read 17-10 in favour of the Red Roses, however, New Zealand’s response was devastating. Prop Toka Natua scored an improbable hat-trick, blasting over from close range and finishing like a winger trapped inside a front rower's body. Black Ferns legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Selica Winiata shredded England’s defence, while Kendra Cocksedge pulled the strings at scrum-half for New Zealand.
Kelly Brazier’s tactical kicking and customary play-making turned the tide, as the Black Ferns veteran skipper Fiao’o Fa’amausili lifted her side to new heights. The second half saw New Zealand pin 31 points on the Red Roses, with simply breathtaking rugby that overwhelmed England's defences. New Zealand regained their World Champions crown from the Red Roses, and claimed their fifth Women's Rugby World Cup title in brilliant fashion. No controversy, no dubious calls, just an incredible side playing at their very best for an era-defining second half.
10) New Zealand 34–31 England — Eden Park Epic defines a generation
2021* Women's Rugby World Cup Final - November 12th 2022 - Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Just when we thought we had seen the all-time greatest clash between England and New Zealand in a Women's Rugby World Cup Final, the 2022 showpiece match took things to an all new level. Having long been the spiritual home for the All Blacks, Eden Park will forever be etched in rugby lore. However, this match has been remembered as the night when the Black Ferns built their own annals of history, and left their mark upon the archaic Auckland amphitheater.
With 42,000+ fans in attendance, a new record was set for a women's rugby match, with the packed crowd first baring witness to England’s unstoppable maul. Powered by Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Bern and captain Sarah Hunter, England dominated the early goings, as hooker Amy Cokayne scored a stunning hat-trick from rolling mauls.
However, Lydia Thompson’s red card left the Roses with 14 on the pitch, and suddenly the tide turned in favour of a Black Ferns torrent. Ruahei Demant was sensational at fly-half for New Zealand, orchestrating attacks with vision and daring England to step out of line. Ayesha Leti-I’iga tormented England’s defence and bagged the decisive try to stun the Red Roses, and once again retain the World Champions crown. With seconds left, England marched down-field for a do-or-die line-out, just 5m from the Black Ferns line.
However, Joanah Ngan-Woo rose highest, stole the ball and sealed an unforgettable World Cup final as the ball was sent high to the stands. End-to-end, drama from the first minute to the very last second, this match will stand the test of time as New Zealand and England once again poured their heart and souls into the women's rugby history books.
*2021 Women's Rugby World Cup was delayed to Autumn 2022 due to Covid
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